Constructional assemblies for use in buildings



Nov. 19, 1968 c. VAN DER LELY 3 CONSTRUCTIONAL ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN BUILDINGS Original Filed Nov. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ao wa AS VAN 05/? Z ELY Nov. 19, 1968 c. VAN DER LELY ,4

CONSTRUCTIONAL ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN BUILDINGS Original Filed Nov. 2, 1964 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. COQNELIS VAN 05/? [ELY United States Patent Continuation of application ,Ser No. 408,160, Nov. 2,

19 64 This application Mar. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 621,711- Claims priority, application Netherlands, Nov. 5, 1963,

151 v s Claims. (Cl." 214 1 H ABSTRACT or THE DISCLOSURE f The combination. of an. elongated box-shaped prefabricated building element having a metal framework with four supporting iron sliders permanently securedto the 7 bottom of the framework, metal rails at the manufacturing plant receiving the framework of the element via the silders, the framework being pulled along the rails on the sliders forassembly, andfoundation beams at "the building site adapted to receive the sliders for moving the'element along the foundation beams to its desired position, the sliders thereafter permanently supporting the element on the foundation beams.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 408,160, filed Nov. 2, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to constructional assemblies for use in buildings, such assemblies being of the kind comprising a prefabricated transportable framework.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a constructional assembly of the kind set forth, wherein the assembly is provided on its lower side with at least one slider, which slider renders the assembly slidably displaceable along a smooth and rigid path.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be readily carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a constructional assembly with sliders in accordance with the invention mounted thereon,

FIGURE 2 is an elevation to an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrow 11 in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on the line IIIIII in FIG- URE and FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a constructional assembly 1 which is intended to form part of a building. The assembly 1 is completely prefabricated and provides a framework to which walls, a floor and a ceiling are attached during the prefabrication process. The bot tom side generally indicated by the reference numeral 2 comprises a frame of two longitudinally extending beams 3 and 4,'whose ends are interconnected by two laterally extending shorter beams 5 and 6. A floor 7 is arranged between the beams 3, 4, 5, and 6 and vertical beams 8 are secured to said beams and have their upper ends connected to a framework 9 of beams so that a cuboid shaped assembly is obtained.

The assembly 1 is provided with four sliders numbered 10, 11, 12, and 13 which are secured to the bottom side of the beam 3. Assembly 1 is also provided with four similar sliders which are secured to the bottom side of beam 4, though these are not shown in the figures. The sliders 10 and 13 are secured at the ends of the beam 3 and the beam 4 is similarly provided, so that the complete assembly 1 is supported at its four lower corners. The aforesaid sliders which are all of similar shape, the slider 3,411,637 Patented Nov. 19, 1968 10 being shown in more detail in FIGURES 3 and'4. By means of said slides, the assembly 1 is borne upon the paths provided by slide beams 14, 15,16, and 17. The slide beams 14, 15, 16, and'17 afford smooth and rigid paths for the sliders. The slider 10 is formed by a square plate of side length 23 and thickness 21, the side 23 being of about 5 centimeters and the thickness 21 being preferably smaller than 25 millimeters and in this particular embodiment, 10 millimeters. The'slider10 is provided in its lower side with parallel grooves .18 and further parallel grooves 19 arranged perpendicularly to the grooves 18. The depth 22 of the grooves 18 and 19 is about 5 millimeters and they are so arranged that the ends of each groove are located at a distance 20 from the periphery of the slider 10. Themaximum width 26 of the grooves, 18 and 19 is about 3 millimeters and the side walls of the grooves'a're inclined to each other at angles 27 of about 30 so that the grooves taper inwardly from their lower sides.

D uring the prefabrication process the assembly 1 is displaced along the slide path formed by the beams 14', 15, 1'6, and 17 on its sliders 10, .11, 12, and 13 and those on the bottom of beam 4. A ll sliders are welded onto the bottom sides of the beams 3, 4, 5, and '6 which are made of steel or other suitable metal. The sliders are made of malleable cast iron and the slide beams 14, 15, 16, and 17 are formed by steel rails. In order to effect smoother displacement of the assembly 1 along such slide beams, a lubricant may be added between them and the sliders. The arrangement of the grooves 18 and 19 is such that they are inclined at angles 25 of 45 to the intended direction of displacement 24 of the assembly (FIGURE 3).

The provision of sliders beneath the assembly 1 ensures that the frame beams 3 to 6 are not damaged during the displacement of the assembly along the slide path. The material of the sliders may be chosen so that easy displacement of the assembly over the beams 14, .15, 16, and 17 is obtained. Thus it will be evident that the choice of the material for the frame beams 3, 4, 5, and 6 need not be dependent on the fact that the assembly has to be moved or displaced.

While it has been shown in the drawings that the assembly can be moved during the prefabricational process, it is also possible to use the sliders in order to place the assembly in position in the construction of a building. The

sliders remain secured to the assembly after the prefabrication process and it is thus possible to arrange the assembly 1 on foundation beams similar to the slide beams 14, 15, 1-6, and 17. The assembly may be lowered from a truck or other transportation vehicle onto the foundation beams by sliding the assembly down inclined slide beams and then displacing the assembly along the foundation beams. Alternatively, concrete beams or raft foundations may be provided in or on which slide beams similar to the beams 14, 15, 16, and 17 may be mounted.

Since the ends of the grooves 18 and 19 do not extend up to the edges of the sliders, the lubricant which may be provided will remain in the grooves and cannot easily escape.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a prefabricated building element'and apparatus for supporting said element during manufacture and at the building site, said combination comprising:

(a) a prefabricated building element having the shape of an elongated cuboid which includes a framework of metal beams;

(b) at least two pairs of sliders permanently secured to the bottom of said framework of metal beams, said sliders each including a bearing surface;

(0) parallel metal rails at the site of manufacture of said prefabricated building element, said metal rails receiving the bearing surfaces of said four sliders for supporting said element while said element is selectively slid thereon for the attachment of functional parts such as a floor, walls, ceiling and a roof at the various locations along said rails, said framework being spaced from said rails by said sliders; and

(d) parallel supporting beams at the building site for said prefabricated building unit, said supporting beams adapted (1) to receive the bearing surfaces of said sliders in a face-to-face relationship, (2) to provide a path for supportably sliding said prefabricated building element on said sliders to its predetermined penrnanent position in said building, and (3) to sup port said prefabricated building element in its predetermined permanent position through said sliders, said supporting beams being metal on their upper sides wherein they are adapted to receive said sliders.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said sliders includes on its lower surface grooves and a lubricating substance in said grooves.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said grooves are biased with respect to the intended direction of travel of said sliders over said supporting beams.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sliders are composed of a material which is different than said frame work of metal beams.

5. 'The combination of claim 1 wherein said sliders are composed of malleable cast iron.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein more than two of said parallel supporting beams are provided at said building site, each of said supporting beams supporting said element in its predetermined permanent position through said sliders.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sliders are located at substantially the corners of said element.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the longer sides of said element are perpendicular to said foundation beams.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 228,176 6/1880 Cox 104-434 2,187,626 1/ 1940 Merriman 308-239 2,924,829 2/1960 Mosier 52-143 X 2,925,305 2/1960 Hackman 3083 2,942,557 6/ 1960 Hirsch et a1 104134 3,225,434 12/1965 Vander Lely et a1 29430 OTHER REFERENCES Prefabrication (magazine), January 1954, page 11.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner. 

